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Love Earl, but being a relatively new football fan (when I moved to Texas in 2011), I find it interesting how often commentators mention his size. 220 pounds is right about average in the NFL these days, and I never hear Adrian Peterson get lauded for his size. Were players smaller on average back then? I can't find any size comparisons over the years.

The starting offensive line for the 1978 Houston Oilers

6'6", 265 lbs
6'4", 263 lbs
6'4", 243 lbs
6'3", 249 lbs
6'3", 264 lbs

Average weight - 256.8 lbs

Earl Campbell - 5'11", 232 lbs

An equivalent running back for the 2018 Houston Texans (25 pounds lighter than their average OL) would weigh 283 pounds.

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RB's haven't gotten much bigger, but OL's in the 70's and early 80's were tiny by today's standards. Average would certainly be under 275, probably closer to 260.

There were other backs the size of the Earl in his day, but nobody with the speed and punishing running style.

The game itself was in transition in the 70s and 80s. The OL on option teams tended to much lighter than power or passing teams. OL in a wishbone offense were expected to block, scrape and run to the third level if possible.

In the 1977 game against ND, ND looked like an NFL roster compared to the size of the UT linemen.... or at least that's what I thought at the time.

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Bill Currier a backup defensive back already had #20. Earl being Earl refused to take someone else’s number. I don’t recall #34 having any special significance, but it did work out in that it meant the greatest Houston pro athlete in every sport wore #34

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Bill Currier a backup defensive back already had #20. Earl being Earl refused to take someone else’s number. I don’t recall #34 having any special significance, but it did work out in that it meant the greatest Houston pro athlete in every sport wore #34

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Starting at the 3:00 minute mark in the Earl highlight video. That run against the Rams where he lowers his head and knocks seven shades of shit out of the linebacker, and just sheds people, losing his jersey as well....will always make my bollocks tingle.

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Bill Currier a backup defensive back already had #20. Earl being Earl refused to take someone else’s number. I don’t recall #34 having any special significance, but it did work out in that it meant the greatest Houston pro athlete in every sport wore #34

IIRC, Currier offered to sell Earl his number for like 10-20k but Earl refused. Not surprising from a guy who grew up with just a tad more than nothing and was still driving a mid-60’s Buick Le Sabre. Today’s generation of players should be so humble and wise with their new-found money.

An equivalent running back for the 2018 Houston Texans (25 pounds lighter than their average OL) would weigh 283 pounds.

That must not have lasted long. When Munchak, Matthews, Steinkuhler and Dawson played together in 1990 (Earl left in 84) Doug was told that he wouldn't start unless he weighed 300. BTW, all 4 of those guys played at significantly lighter weights in college than in the pros.

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Downs graduated from Rice in '81 and made the Dallas Cowboys' roster that summer as an undrafted free agent. He played free safety in the NFL for nine seasons, eight of them for the Cowboys. He recorded 35 career interceptions, scored three defensive touchdowns and went to the playoffs four times. These days, he works in real estate in Dallas.